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Old San Juan (Viejo San Juan) is the historic core of San Juan. Although this eight by ten block district is part of San Juan, it is quite geographically and culturally distinct from the rest of the city. It occupies the western half of the islet of San Juan, which it shares with Puerta de Tierra. As this is a tourist destination, English is relatively common, but not universally spoken.

Founded in 1509, San Juan became a walled city protected by multiple forts. It guarded an important entrance into the Spanish Main, and withstood multiple attacks by the British and Dutch (some partially successful). It was considered the Gibraltar of the West Indies. Due to its military significance, the government kept the growing population within the city walls until 1897, when a few bastions were demolished. The forts received some naval bombardment from US naval ships during the Spanish American War (1898). Much of the district's architecturally historic fabric is intact, including the impressive fortifications.

Many tourists are caught unaware of the sun exposure received from simply walking around the sites of this tropical city. Sunblock is available at many stores in town. Wear good walking shoes to deal with the hills and cobblestone streets. Around the perimeter of the district the trade winds make it surprisingly comfortable, but along the interior streets it get much hotter, with closely spaced, multi-story buildings cutting off any breeze. Brief rain showers are quite common, so watch your step, as the cobblestones can get quite slippery.

Old San Juan is a common stop for cruise ships, yet it is definitely not a beach resort. It is a real neighborhood, where people work and live. Men typically wear collared shirts and long pants, and businessmen wear suits. Women tend to wear skirts or dresses and often high heeled shoes. Although visitors sometimes dress more casually; a collared shirt, shorts with pockets and belt, and shoes are minimally appropriate for adults at most attractions.

Today the port of San Juan annually accommodates nearly 1.4 million passengers in cruise ship travel alone, making it the third busiest cruise port in the world, according to the Cruise Industry Statistical Review published in 2000. The busiest docks are on the south side of the area near the city bus station. Another pier adjacent to the old Pan American airport handles mostly Royal Caribbean cruise ships for beginning or ending their cruises; it must be reached by car or taxi. Otherwise, all cruise ships dock at Old San Juan.

You may arrive at San Juan/Luis Muñoz Marín Airport, then take a $20 cab ride to your pier. If cruising, you should reach San Juan at least a day before the cruise ship embarks to ensure you make it despite any airline troubles. This also provides time for sightseeing in Old San Juan, near your hotel, etc.

There is also ferry service from across the harbor. Although one can easily drive to Old San Juan, it is not easy to drive or park within the district due to the narrow streets.

For those staying at major hotels outside Old San Juan, day tours can usually be arranged with the concierge. During busy times, drivers may refuse those with significant luggage. For just getting around, you might also consider the city bus to and from Old San Juan. (see same subject for "San Juan")

Old San Juan is primarily made up of one-way, narrow, cobblestoned streets. Finding street parking can be difficult. If you must drive, try to park along Calle de Norzagaray or any other streets on the northern side, or in the garages on Calle Recinto Sur. Calle de Norzagaray is near many attractions and the trolley system which can take you into Old San Juan and out back to your car when you are done. If you are visiting Castillo San Felipe del Morro, the closest garage is an underground facility under Plaza del Quinto Centenario. Castillo de San Cristóbal has its own small parking lot, for which you have to buy a permit at the adjacent visitor center.

There are three large parking garages at the south end of Old San Juan along Calle Recinto Sur, which are also convenient for accessing Calle Forteleza if you plan to shop there for souvenirs. There is also a large parking lot at La Puntilla that is significantly less expensive than the garages in Old San Juan.

Most of the garages do not take credit cards. Make sure you have sufficient cash before you drive in or prepare to pay ATM fees.

Taxis are available throughout Old San Juan, and this option may be best if you are not practically dressed or not in comfortable walking shoes, or traveling with someone who cannot walk long distances easily. The fare from Luis Muñoz Marín International Airport to Old San Juan is fixed at $19 plus $1 per suitcase (plus whatever tip you want to leave). Note that there is often traffic, and the time from the airport to Old San Juan can vary from 15 minutes (no traffic) to 30 or 40 minutes. But the fare is not time-dependent – it's always $19 + baggage fee.

The public bus system does not actually traverse Old San Juan itself. However, the major bus station is adjacent; on the harbor side of the area, near one of the major cruise ship piers. Information on bus routes in the San Juan area can be hard to find, but the trip between Isla Verde, Condado, and Old San Juan can be done fairly easily from any marked "Parada" (bus stop) for only 75 cents fare. Making the trip from the Airport to Old San Juan involves a transfer and the travel time can be very unpredictable.

There is a free, often-running trolley that takes people around the forts, museums, and the center of Old San Juan. Trolley stops are marked with yellow banners that show an illustration of a trolley and a number that indicates which stop it is. You can get on or off at any designated stop, and the trolley driver will help you find your stop if you aren't sure. If you're feeling a bit warm in the midday heat, hop on a white trolley which is open on the sides to catch a nice breeze while speeding to your destination. On Saturday and Sunday afternoons, when cruise ships bring in hundreds of tourists, the trolley is often completely full and does not pick up new passengers. Try to go early.

The attractions of Old San Juan are within walking distance of each other, but the climate and topography can be taxing on day-trippers. Even if the locals wear nice shoes or sandals, you should feel free to wear comfortable walking shoes, as you will scale a few hills and a lot of cobblestone while getting around. Mid-late afternoon temperatures in the spring, summer, and fall may make walking a bit oppressive, with tall, crowded buildings blocking the breeze. Alternatives to avoid the humidity and tropical sun include going early as stores open (typically 10AM on weekdays) or catching the free trolley winding throughout the area, with opportunities to get off at marked stops wherever desired. The trolley tends to stay very full on afternoons when cruise ships are in.

Even within the pedestrian metropolis that is Old San Juan, cars will speed through intersections, so use the same amount of caution as you do in other parts of San Juan and wait for cars to stop for you. Do not try to stop traffic unless it is urgent that you cross the street, and if you must then make sure you have made eye contact with the driver and there is no possibility that the car behind it can bypass him from the side and proceed across the intersection. Sidewalks are very narrow and sometimes may have grooves or tripping hazards, so be careful.

While definitely part of Old San Juan's charm, the vast number of architecturally similar buildings lining each street can be a nuisance to tourists trying to use landmarks or memory to find something. Don't wait to get to Old San Juan to get a map-- get one beforehand and study it so you know what streets take you to your destination and what streets don't. Don't try to use landmarks until you are used to navigating the city, especially since the heat and tiredness from walking can wear you out more quickly than you think. If you get lost or confused, find a bench and pull out your map, which should be readily available to you. Locals will also try to respond to simple requests for help. Don't try to walk yourself back into familiar territory. If you are trying to find a specific museum or restaurant that is not one of the major ones, memorize the address and street. If you know exactly where you are and where you are going, you should find navigating Old San Juan on foot very easy and enjoyable.

La Perla, the tiny oceanside neighborhood over the North Wall and Norzagaray Street, is best viewed from the El Morro Fort Lawn/Cemetery tunnel entrance. This sleepy slum neighborhood coexists quietly in the bustling shadow of Old San Juan, and is home to surfers, artists and tourism workers. Breathtaking views of the Atlantic Ocean and true community pride are the acclaides of this fascinating area that seems to be frozen in time. It is not advisable to enter La Perla either on foot or in a vehicle; it is known for a high rate of illegal activities, and there is no police presence there.

It is considered to be rude to take someone's picture without permission in the Caribbean. Privacy is precious in a small community. Ask first, and receive a wonderful smile to warm up your photo memories!

San Juan National Historic Site, 501 Norzagaray Street, (787) 729-6960, [1]. Open 9AM-5PM June through November, and 9AM-6PM December through May. The park consists of multiple sites. Castillo San Cristóbal is one of the largest Spanish fortresses in the new world, and has a National Park Service visitor center off of Avenida Luis Muñoz Rivera. The center offers English and Spanish versions of an introductory film to the Historic Site, exhibits, and a bookshop. Castillo San Felipe del Morro (or el Morro) is a citadel with a commanding view of the entrance to San Juan Harbor, located at the end of Calle Norzagaray. The extensive esplanade between the citadel and the town is popular for kite flying. A single entrance fee to both forts is $5/week no doggy afuera (children under 12 are free). Allow at least an hour to explore each fort. The park also includes most of the historic city walls, and tiny Fortín San Juan de la Cruz (or el Cañuelo) located across the harbor on Isla de Cabras.

Old San Juan Attractions

Alcadia - San Juan's City hall, built in 1602.

The Institute of Puerto Rican Culture

Casa Blanca, western end of Calle San Sebastián, (787) 721-7000, ext. 2358. Ancestral home of the Ponce de Leon family, now a museum.

La Fortaleza, western end of Calle Fortaleza, (787) 724-1454.- Oldest governor's mansion in continuous use in the New World.

San Jose Church - (1532) Second oldest church in continuous use in the New World.

San Juan Cathedral, 153 Calle Cristo. (1540) Burial site of Ponce de Leon.

San Juan Gate - Traditional entrance to San Juan.

Ballaja Barracks - Museum of Americas highlights colorful folk art.

La Casa del Libro - Museum of the art and history books through five centuries.

San Sebastian Festival, annually in January, the weekend before the Martin Luther King holiday, it is one of the most popular festivals in the Caribbean, full of activities, parades, food and live music. It began as a neighborhood event for Saint Sebastian; now it's the Festival de la Calle San Sebastian - celebrating the street, rather than the Saint. It is pleasant, if insanely crowded early in the afternoon, with artisans and families, but after dark the artisans flee and it's jam packed with drunken teenagers. Remarkably crime free, except for rocking cars, and the predictable outcome of 10,000 people drinking for 8 hours in a 6 block narrow street with no facilities.

Segway Tours, 787-598-9455 (email: info@segwaytourspr.com), [2]. Daily 9AM-5PM, according to demand. Explore Old San Juan on a segway. 45 minute and 2 hour tours include riding lesson, individual segway and audio guide. $35-$70. Off season in September.

Shopping in Old San Juan is diverse, with retailers scattered among many narrow streets. Stores include many fine jewelers, arts, crafts and mercantile shops, two drug stores, and a few branded "outlets", e.g., Coach: genuine with good prices, but discontinued styles. You'll also find numerous cafes and a few fine restaurants. You'll find a well-stocked Walgreens (Rx services pending) at the corner of a large square in the central area, and a new/large CVS (with Rx services) opposite the cross-bay ferry terminal.

Puerto Rican Rums & other hard liquor as well as beer and wine are sold at good prices at the grocery store.

Aqua Adventure, Old San Juan (Located at the Caribe Hilton Beach), ☎787-636-8811, [3]. 9:00am-6:00pm. Scuba Diving, Snuba, Sea Trek & Snorkeling tours just minutes away from Old San Juan. Each activity is about an hour and a half and you don't have to be a certified scuba diver to participate. All tours/activities are guided by a PADI or SNUBA professional. Aqua Adventure also provides Scuba Certification classes from basic Open Water to Divemaster. $84.00. edit

Unlike in most U.S. States, Puerto Rican laws have little restrictions on the sale of alcoholic beverages. Even modest lunch counters will offer beer, wine, and some mixed drinks. Tipping is customary. There are restaurants which cater to tourists, particularly tapas bars and Latin "fusion" restaurants, but look at the menu before going in to make sure prices are in a comfortable range.

La Mallorca, Calle San Francisco 300 (east of Tanca). Called "the Platonic ideal of a diner" by the New York Times, this local cafe is operated by the owners of La Bombonera and has the same time-warp atmosphere. Serves breakfast and lunch. The Mallorca pastry and the sandwiches are recommended. Superlative coffee. Sandwiches around $5, mains under $10.

Dragonfly, Calle Fortaleza. By far one of the best places to eat if you want a cuban Asian Fusion. Great food right across from Aquaviva in Old San Juan. No shorts or sandals allowed.

El Meson Sandwiches at the intersection of C. San Francisco and C. San Jose, has a large selection (including many vegetarian items) at very reasonable prices.

Mojito's, Calle Recinto Sur 323. Despite the Cubanesque name and its location on the cruise ship trail, this restaurant serves up big portions of no-nonsense pork, rice and beans local fare at reasonable prices. Try the chuletas (pork chops). Mains from $10.

Ostra Cosa, Calle del Cristo 154, Phone: 787-722-2672. Daily 12PM-10PM. Reservations recommended. The ambience here is one of the most sensual and romantic in Old San Juan.

Parrot Club, Calle Fortaleza 363, Phone: 787-725-7370. Daily 12PM-3PM; 6PM-11PM. One of the better Latin fusion restaurants: it's expensive, but at least the food is good, the decor bright and the service friendly. Live music, either Brazilian, salsa, or Latino jazz, is offered nightly as well as during the popular Sunday brunches.

Siglo XX, Calle O'Donell (just south of Plaza Colón). Local cuisine. Good Cuban sandwiches and beans and rice. Serves lunch and dinner. Inexpensive.

Diana Font Artworks, 205 San Francisco & 204 Luna Streets (Ground floor Cochera Parking Building), ☎787-722-4181. Diana Font, a nominee to the National Design Awards sponsored by the Cooper- Hewitt National Design Museum. designs and manufactures unique world quality furniture. The ship around the world and the prices extremely attractive to theknowledgeable. edit

Pieria Restaurant & Lounge, 310 Fortaleza St. (SOFO Culinary District), ☎787-774-3742, [6]. Pieria offers a combination of local dishes like their Paella Artesanal and Stuffed Mofongo, as well as international tapas, such as Yakitori, Chorizos al Vino. Their sangria is excellent.edit

The bar called Barrachina, where the Piña Colada was claimed to have been invented in 1963, is on Calle Fortaleza near San José. A stone marker on the outside wall marks the location. Some "coladas" are held in and served from automatic machines.

There is a public ordinance which bans drinking alcoholic beverages on the street. Although this is not strictly enforced at all times, it is recommended to consume all alcoholic beverages inside the establishments unless there is an organized outdoor seating space on the sidewalk. This local open container ordinance is relaxed during the San Sebastian Festival, when drinking in public areas is allowed within the cordoned area of the festival if using plastic containers: no cans or bottles.

Punto de Vista Restaurant, Plaza Covadonga (across from cruise pier 3/4), ☎787-729-7575. 11a to late. A local hotspot! Find out why the locals go to Punto de Vista for excellent Puerto Rican Food. Traditional Mofongo, Arroz y Habichuela (Rice & Beans), Churrasquitos (steak tacos). The staff is bilingual & friendly. Mojitos are made by hand with fresh mint. Great prices on drinks & featuring Medalla the local beer fo $1.50 all day every day. The owner is originally from New Jersey.$. edit

Pieria Restaurant & Lounge, 310 Fortaleza St. (Located in the SOFO Culinary Districs in Old San Juan), ☎787-774-3742, [8]. Pieria transforms into a Bar/Lounge Club after dinner, which caters mostly to fashionable locals. Their drink specialties include the Cava (Sparkling Wine) Sangria, their signature martinis and the mojitos. On weekends it stays open until about 4AM.edit

A few modern chain hotels are located near the cruise ship docks, some with casinos. Hotels within the city walls tend to be more colorful, smaller, and with historic charms. Note that because Old San Juan is not the "beach" part of town, its hotels don't have beach access. If you'd like to stay at a hotel on the beach it's best to look toward Condado or Isla Verda and then take a day trip into Old San Juan.

Castro Guest House, 205 Calle de Tanca, tel. (787) 722-5436. Small guest house with rooms from $20-40 per night. Shared bathrooms, can be a little grotty. No air-con, and cheapest rooms have no windows, but balcony rooms are breezy. Between Calle de la San Francisco and Calle de la Forteleza on the Eastern side of the street. Transportation from the Airport is $19.50 plus $.50 per piece of luggage.

Posada San Francisco, 405 San Francisco street directly in front of Plaza Colon. Due to its cleanness and location, it's one of the best budget options in the Old Town. Has a variety for all types of budget options but all having Air-conditioning and kitchen facilities. One floor dedicated to hostel dorm-style accommodations for $23 per person. On a different floor, a guest house section with all private rooms $45 or with satellite TV, $60. The easiest way to book is through Hostelworld.com and you have immediate access to availability.

Base Hostel, 51 Calle San Jose. You can book directly by calling Jose at (443) 518-0801.

ALaSol, ☎(787)724.4456 (mariantonia@caribe.net), [9]. In Old San Juan. Owners María Antonia and Monchy rent completely furnished, 1 bedroom apartments with futon in living room. They include kitchen, a/c in the bedroom, Direct TV, local phone and a parking space (great asset in Old San Juan) $100/ night (3 nights minimum), $500/ week, $1,500/ month,.edit

The Gallery Inn, 204-206 Calle Norzagaray, Phone: (787) 722-1808, [10]. A unique experience, its 22 rooms are in a complex of connected eighteenth-century houses. Owned and operated by an artist, works are displayed throughout the inn. Built on perhaps the highest point in the district, the roof deck has commanding views of the town and ocean.

Howard Johnson Plaza de Armas, 202 Calle San Jose, ☎787-722-9191, [11]. Not your typical HoJo, this is located smack dab in the middle of old town in a restored colonial house. Rooms are squeaky clean but tiny, often windowless, and equipped with noisy old air-con. Free breakfast in the downright stylish lounge, free wifi. Temperamental elevator, no parking. All in all, it's OK if you just need a place to crash, but not much more.$95-150. edit

Hotel El Convento, 100 Calle Cristo, Telephone: 787-723-9020 - Toll Free: 800-468-2779 - Telfax: 787-721-2877, [15]. This small luxury hotel was a convent until the late nineteenth century. A four story courtyard connects the rooms, and the entire hotel has free wireless internet as well as free afternoon wine and cheese. The deck around the rooftop plunge pool has a world-class view overlooking the town. The courtyard features restaurants and a bar. All of the hotel is accessible by elevator. $225 and up

Sheraton Old San Juan Hotel & Casino, 100 Brumbaugh Street , Phone: (866) 653-7577, [17]. The Sheraton Old San Juan Hotel & Casino is a delightfully captivating upscale hotel in the heart of picturesque Old San Juan, a city as rich in history as it is in culture. A completely unique location highlights spectacular views of the bay and puts you mere cobblestone away from 16th century Spanish fortresses, fascinating museums, art galleries, restaurants and world-class shopping. From its uniquely Spanish-colonial architecture to its comforting in-room amenities, the Sheraton Old San Juan Hotel & Casino offers guests the perfect blend of Old World charm and New World elegance. $$$ $225 and up.

Old San Juan is heavily patrolled by local police, especially on the streets around the two forts and the harbor. It is quite safe in comparison to the rest of the city.

It is not advisable to go out alone late at night, unless you have a friend or guide to escort you. If you are traveling by bus, understand that buses that service stations in many of the outlying hotel areas stop running at around 9 or 10PM, and the exact time of the last bus is unreliable. If you plan on being out at night in Old San Juan and you are taking the bus in, bring enough money for a taxi in case you stay out too late. Make sure you confirm with your hotel the price you should pay to get back, as cab drivers in Old San Juan are probably the most likely to add a dollar or so to the set fare. Many of the major resort hotels in the area have casinos, lounges, and discos with live music and restaurants which are mostly open until 3-4AM, along with taxis lining the entrance to take people back to their rooms when you're done.

For those staying in Old San Juan, organized bus/van day-trips to other sights in Puerto Rico can be arranged through most hotels.

Some cabs wait at the end of the El Morro esplanade footpath. There are usually many, many cabs standing at the southwest corner of Plaza Colón.

This is a usable article. It has information for getting in as well as some complete entries for restaurants and hotels. An adventurous person could use this article, but please plunge forward and help it grow!